Following the accident that claimed his father’s life on June 6, actor Shine Tom Chacko has spoken publicly about the incident, his emotional state, and the support he received from Mammootty. In a recent interview with Cue Studio, Shine explained that the veteran actor contacted him soon after the tragedy, reassuring him that he was “not such a troublesome boy” and advising, “Everything will be fine. Don’t overthink and feel sad. We’ll change and move forward. Everything else will follow.” Mammootty also proposed collaborating on a new film, to which Shine agreed.
The accident occurred on the Salem–Bengaluru National Highway while the family was travelling from Thrissur to Bengaluru. Preliminary police findings suggest their car struck the rear of a lorry near Palakkodu in Tamil Nadu’s Dharmapuri district. Shine’s father, CP Chacko, died at the scene. Shine, his mother Mary Carmel, his brother Jo John and the driver were injured and admitted to the hospital for treatment.
Shine described lying in the back seat before the crash, waking up periodically to ask his father for a biscuit before drifting back to sleep. When he regained consciousness after the impact, the vehicle was wrecked and his father was unresponsive. He recounted how his mother, lying on a stretcher and unable to see the surroundings, repeatedly asked where her husband was. Unsure how to tell her the truth, Shine kept insisting their father was still with them. She never had the chance to see him properly before the body was moved.
He described the moment as the point when the reality of losing a parent became overwhelming. “Until then, hearing about someone’s father or mother dying was just something I would see on the news,” he said. “When it happens to you, it is nothing like hearing it second-hand.” The accident came at a time when Shine was already navigating personal and professional turmoil.
Earlier this year, he was arrested under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act after allegedly attempting to evade police during a hotel raid in Kochi. Following questioning, he was admitted to a de-addiction centre in Thodupuzha under the Kerala government’s “Vimukthi” rehabilitation programme, with authorities clarifying he was not involved in trafficking. He also faced allegations of misconduct under the influence during the filming of Soothravakyam, leading to an Internal Complaints Committee inquiry and a subsequent apology.
Despite these controversies, Shine said Mammootty’s support has been unwavering. He recalled that when he was acquitted in an earlier cocaine case, the veteran actor had sent him a simple message: “God bless you.” Mammootty and Shine have collaborated on several films over the years, including Unda, Bheeshma Parvam, Christopher, Kannur Squad, Dominic and the Ladies’ Purse and Bazooka.
Actor Shine also said that even while trying to overcome addiction, many people still comment that he will eventually go back to his old habits. He shared that earlier, his attempts to quit were driven by pressure and fear, but now he is doing it for the sake of those around him. Shine described addiction as something very deceptive, adding that the pleasure it gives never really lasts.
